Jets Free Agents: Ranking Re-Sign Priorities for New York
Let's be honest: A 4-12 team does not have a whole lot of pieces worth keeping—especially with a new general manager and head coach coming to town.
The Jets are much more preoccupied with making improvements to the team in free agency, not keeping around the same underwhelming roster. The New York Jets could potentially move on from all of their top free agents and field a better team next year.
There are a few veterans the Jets should at least try to retain next offseason to give them insurance, but nothing is guaranteed for any of these players.
Here are the re-signing priorities in order for the Jets this offseason.
6. Leger Douzable, DE
1 of 6
Leger Douzable is among the best backup 3-4 defensive linemen in the business, but he is less useful to the Jets than just about any other team.
With so much talent laced across the defensive line by the likes of Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, having a quality backup like Douzable, who managed 2.5 sacks in limited snaps this season, is a luxury.
His stock would skyrocket if Wilkerson puts on an unexpected holdout this offseason, but for now, Douzable should be treated like any other backup.
If Douzable is willing to accept a minimum deal to spend most of his season on the sideline, the Jets may as well bring him back. However, he may be looking to get on the field a bit more while he is still producing at a relatively high level.
5. Kenrick Ellis, NT
2 of 6
A third-round pick from the 2011 draft, the Jets were expecting Kenrick Ellis to have established himself as the starting nose tackle.
However, the unexpected meteoric rise of Damon Harrison have put Ellis' sights on the starting lineup on hold. While he has played well in his limited snaps and is actually an upgrade over Harrison as a pass-rusher, Harrison been the much steadier run defender (remaining healthy in the process).
If Ellis is ever going to get a crack at a starting gig, now is the time to do it without the strings of a contract. Plus, the Jets have enough players along their defensive line to pay; keeping a quality backup nose tackle is too low on the priority list with so much for a new administration to do.
Through the fault of neither party, it is simply best for both Ellis and the Jets to head in a new direction this offseason.
4. Willie Colon, G
3 of 6
The Jets can really go either way when it comes to veteran guard Willie Colon. On one hand, letting him go opens up a spot in the starting lineup for any of the Jets' underwhelming (Oday Aboushi or Brian Winters) or completely unproven (Dakota Dozier) depth players to fill in.
However, after leading the team in penalties last year, a new regime would figure to go in a younger direction and move on from the oft-injured 31-year-old.
Colon was a solid pass-protector last year (just one sack allowed, according to Pro Football Focus), but he could decline at a moment's notice given his age. Colon is a risk the Jets would rather not take on if they could help it.
Just like last offseason, Colon figures to be a backup plan in case the Jets find themselves stuck without a pair of NFL-caliber guards by the latter stages of the offseason. In the meantime, finding a younger player with more gas in the tank, whether it be through the draft or free agency, seems to be the logical route.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
3. Bilal Powell, RB
4 of 6
On the surface, the Jets running back depth would seem to make Bilal Powell one of the more expendable free agents on the roster. However, if the Jets want to have some flexibility in being able to part ways with the underwhelming Chris Johnson after this season, they must find a way to retain Powell.
The do-it-all runner matched Johnson's per-carry average (4.3) while being much more adept in both pass protection and catching the ball. With just four years under his belt (almost entirely in a committee rotation), he has much less tread on his tires.
If the Jets let Powell walk in free agency, they would be forced to either retain the overpaid Johnson or find a replacement through the draft or free agency, where the odds of them finding as capable of a runner at a relatively cheap price is slim.
Powell may be the third runner on New York's depth chart, but the Jets need him much more than Powell needs the Jets.
2. David Harris, ILB
5 of 6
A rebuilding team like the Jets may not typically be interested in re-signing a soon-to-be 31-year-old linebacker, but the Jets' desperate need for an inside linebacker may force them to pony up the cash to keep around the longtime Jet.
With last year's fifth-round pick Jeremiah George now on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster and special teams ace Nick Bellore hitting the open market as well, the Jets have nothing in line to replace Harris as the starter opposite Demario Davis.
New head coach Todd Bowles has a history of reviving veteran linebackers. He managed to get Karlos Dansby a top-of-the-market contract with the Cleveland Browns at age 32 after just one year of coaching.
The price has to be within reason, but if paying market value avoids potential disaster at this position next year, Harris needs to be brought back.
1. Damon Harrison, NT
6 of 6
None of the soon-to-be free agents this year are "keep at all costs" players, but nose tackle Damon Harrison comes close to such a designation.
Luckily for the Jets, Harrison's background as a restricted free agent will allow them to keep him for 2015 under a one-year tender. Assuming the Jets give Harrison, one of the best run defenders at his position, a max first-round tender, he should make somewhere north of $3.1 million next year based on last year's number.
Harrison will eventually have to be retained under a long-term deal if the Jets want to keep him into 2016 and beyond, but the Jets have an easy solution to retaining their top free agent this year—they may as well use it while they can.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
